John davidson



J. DAVIDSON.

SPRINKLER HEAD SHUT-OFF.

APPLlcAnoN FILED 050.18, |919.

Patented May 31, 1921.

SWW/M101; Jail/2 HdM/$021.

abtowsut unirse rare FENCE.

SPRINKLER-HEAD SHUT-FF.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed Becember 18, 1919. Serial No. 345,884.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, JOHN DAVIDSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident ci' the city of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode lslanchhave invented certain new and useful'lmprovements in Sprinkler- Head Shut- Offs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sprinkler-head shutoff devices; and has for its object to provide a simple and effective closure member carried by a sprinkler head and adapted to be moved to close the discharge opening through the head at any time after the main closure member has been dislodged therefrom.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improved device.

Fig. 2- is a plan view sectioned on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3- is a perspective view showing a detail of one of the auxiliary closure members.

Itis found in the use of sprinkler systems for lire protection that sometimes the sprinkler' head is accidentally or prematurely opened, and then again the head is often affected by an unimportant local blaze which has generated just sufficient heat to fuse and set off a near-by head, the `fire being subsequently quickly extinguished, in both of which cases it is found to be of great importance to be able to quickly and readily shut off the supply of water from this head itself in order to prevent excessive and unnecessary water damage.

My attachment is fitted as 'a part of the sprinkler head and is in position and ready for immediate use, to shut off the escaping.` water from any sprinkler head without having to wait (as is necessary at present) until the main shut od is closed and the section drained of water.

To obviate this in a simple and practical way I have provided a closure member which is connected to, carried on, or forms a part of the head itself and which is always in position for immediate use to shut off the water at the head without having to wait until the valve at the main is reached and the section drained of its water.

The following is a detailed description of one form of device by which l am enabled to Taccomplish the desired results lieferring to the drawing, l() designates the body of a sprinkler head, which comprises the usual neck 11 and a frame or yoke member 12. ln the body is mounted the usual diaphragm 13 which is provided with a raised portion 22 on its base about its discharge opening 1li, which opening is normally closed by a glass stopper 15 held in position by a link 16 which is formed of several parts locked together by solder or readily-fusible material 17.

rlhrough the opposite walls of this body portion 10 l have provided longitudinal slots 18 and 19 at points just above the diaphragm., and have mounted a plate or strip 20 to extend through the slot 18 across the face of the diaphragm and have its end 21 extend into the slot 19. This end portion 21 is preferably slightly beveled as at 23 whereby when the plate is moved inwardly to its closed position, it is simultaneously forced downwardly onto the raised seat of the diaphragm, to efectually close the disharge opening 14 therethrough.

ln this plate 20 l have preferably formed a hole or opening 24 through which the main closure member extends whereby the plate or auxiliary closure is securely locked in position in the body portion and therefore is in operative position; but when the main closure is for any cause removed, this auX- iliary valve or closure may be engaged and hit or rapped with a stick or bar by a person on the floor, to close the opening and shut off the water and so in many eases prevent much damage by an excessive flow.

rlhe auxiliary valve, gate, or closure is designed to t closely in its two slots so that it cannot move except when pushed by the operator. Then again when the diaphragm is released after the displacement of the main closure member it springs upwardly and engages this plate by spring pressure further servingr to hold it either when in opened or closed position. The spring action of the diaphragm also serves to assist in preventing a leakage through the discharge opening when the gate or valve is in closed position.

lhis device while being in position in the head vfor immediate use in shutting oli the Water at the head, is so designed as to in no way interfere with the free and full operation of the head in the event of fire.

Then again by connecting the'shut oi or closure member to the head it is always in position when Wanted, which Would not be the oase if the closure Were formed separate and disconnected from the head and kept at some distant point.

The device is extremely simple and practical in its operation.

The foregoing description is directed solely toward the construction illustrated, but I desireit to be understood that I reserve the yprivilege oit resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being deiined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A sprinkler-head comprising a body portion having a main closure member, and an auxiliary closure member, the latter being looked in said body by the positioning of the former and having an operating portion extending laterally beyond said body.

2. A sprinkler-head comprising a body portion having a main closure member, an auxiliary closure member provided With an opening said main closure When in operating position entering said opening to lock said auxiliary closure 'in inoperative position and said latter closure being released by the removal of said main closure.

3. A sprinkler-head comprising an body portion having a main closure member seated therein, an auxiliary closure member having an opening therein through which said main closure extends to engage its seat whereby said auxiliaryclosure is locked in inoperative position.

il. A sprinkler head having a body portion, a resilient diaphragm in said body having a discharge openingY therethrough, a main closure member positioned to normally close said discharge opening, and a second closure member mounted to slide in said head in a plane diii'erent from that of said diaphragm Without affecting the operating resiliency ot' said diaphragm and having a portion extending laterally beyond the body portion of the head to be readily engaged and moved to close said opening.

5. A sprinkler head having a body portion, a diaphragm in said head having a discharge opening therethrough, a main closure member positioned to normally close said discharge opening, a second closure member mounted in said head in position to be readily moved to close said opening, and means whereby said latter closure is caused to press tightly against said diaphragm when moved to closed position.

6. A sprinkler head comprising a body portion having a contracted discharge opening therethrough, a member for normally closing said opening, a closure plate slidably mounted in said head and adapted to be moved to closed position ater said member has been removed, and a beveled portion on said plate for causing it to press against its seat over the opening upon being moved to closed position.

7. A sprinkler head comprising an upper and lower member, a separate intermediate body portion connected to said members.v said body carrying a diaphragm having a rentral opening and being slotted through its side wall, a main closure ior said openingl and an auxiliary closure slidably mounted in said slots and having an operating portion normally extending laterally a substantial distance beyond said body to be oprated to close said opening when the main closure has been removed.

S. A. sprinkler-head comprising a body portion having a contracted discharge opening through it, a main closure member therefor, said body being provided with a transverse slot through it and a plate slidabhv mounted in said slot provided with au opening through Which said main closure extends to its seat, said plate being adapted to be moved only atter said closure has been removed therefrom.

In testimony whereolt l ai'liX my signature.

JOHN DAVDSON.

El Ll 

